NR548 Exam 2 Actual Exam Style V1 | NR
548 Psychiatric Assessment for
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse
Practitioner Chamberlain
1. Which component of the Mental Status Exam (MSE) describes a patient’s internal,
sustained emotional state?
A. Affect
B. Mood
C. Perception
D. Thought Process
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Mood is defined as the patient’s subjective, internal emotional state
as reported by the patient. Affect refers to the clinician’s objective observation of the
patient’s emotional expression. Assessment of mood is essential for identifying depressive
or manic episodes.
2. When assessing a patient for suicidal ideation, which approach is considered the most
effective?
A. Asking directly and clearly about suicidal thoughts
B. Asking indirectly to avoid suggesting the idea
C. Waiting for the patient to bring it up first
,D. Relying solely on non-verbal cues
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Asking a patient directly about suicide does not plant the idea in their
head and is the safest assessment method. Direct questioning allows the provider to gather
specific details regarding plans or intent. It is a critical safety intervention in psychiatric
nursing practice.
3. The CAGE questionnaire is used to screen for which of the following conditions?
A. Anxiety disorders
B. Alcohol use disorder
C. Depression
D. Cognitive impairment
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: The CAGE questionnaire consists of four questions designed to
identify potential alcohol abuse or dependence. It stands for Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty,
and Eye-opener. A positive response to two or more questions suggests a high probability
of alcohol use disorder.
4. Which of the following is a key symptom of a Major Depressive Episode according to the
DSM-5?
A. Increased energy for 3 days
, B. Anhedonia for at least 2 weeks
C. Hallucinations lasting 1 month
D. Panic attacks occurring daily
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Anhedonia, or the loss of interest or pleasure in activities, is a core
diagnostic criterion for Major Depressive Disorder. Symptoms must be present for a
minimum of two weeks to meet the diagnostic threshold. This help distinguish clinical
depression from transient sadness.
5. What is the primary difference between a hallucination and an illusion?
A. Hallucinations involve a real external stimulus, while illusions do not
B. Illusions involve a real external stimulus, while hallucinations do not
C. Hallucinations only occur in Schizophrenia
D. Illusions are always auditory
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: An illusion is a misinterpretation of a real external sensory stimulus,
such as mistaking a coat rack for a person. A hallucination is a sensory perception that
occurs without any external stimulus. Distinguishing between the two helps in evaluating
the severity of a patient’s perceptual disturbances.
548 Psychiatric Assessment for
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse
Practitioner Chamberlain
1. Which component of the Mental Status Exam (MSE) describes a patient’s internal,
sustained emotional state?
A. Affect
B. Mood
C. Perception
D. Thought Process
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Mood is defined as the patient’s subjective, internal emotional state
as reported by the patient. Affect refers to the clinician’s objective observation of the
patient’s emotional expression. Assessment of mood is essential for identifying depressive
or manic episodes.
2. When assessing a patient for suicidal ideation, which approach is considered the most
effective?
A. Asking directly and clearly about suicidal thoughts
B. Asking indirectly to avoid suggesting the idea
C. Waiting for the patient to bring it up first
,D. Relying solely on non-verbal cues
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Asking a patient directly about suicide does not plant the idea in their
head and is the safest assessment method. Direct questioning allows the provider to gather
specific details regarding plans or intent. It is a critical safety intervention in psychiatric
nursing practice.
3. The CAGE questionnaire is used to screen for which of the following conditions?
A. Anxiety disorders
B. Alcohol use disorder
C. Depression
D. Cognitive impairment
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: The CAGE questionnaire consists of four questions designed to
identify potential alcohol abuse or dependence. It stands for Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty,
and Eye-opener. A positive response to two or more questions suggests a high probability
of alcohol use disorder.
4. Which of the following is a key symptom of a Major Depressive Episode according to the
DSM-5?
A. Increased energy for 3 days
, B. Anhedonia for at least 2 weeks
C. Hallucinations lasting 1 month
D. Panic attacks occurring daily
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Anhedonia, or the loss of interest or pleasure in activities, is a core
diagnostic criterion for Major Depressive Disorder. Symptoms must be present for a
minimum of two weeks to meet the diagnostic threshold. This help distinguish clinical
depression from transient sadness.
5. What is the primary difference between a hallucination and an illusion?
A. Hallucinations involve a real external stimulus, while illusions do not
B. Illusions involve a real external stimulus, while hallucinations do not
C. Hallucinations only occur in Schizophrenia
D. Illusions are always auditory
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: An illusion is a misinterpretation of a real external sensory stimulus,
such as mistaking a coat rack for a person. A hallucination is a sensory perception that
occurs without any external stimulus. Distinguishing between the two helps in evaluating
the severity of a patient’s perceptual disturbances.
